Hair clipper



Sp 259 31934., M, AND@ l,974,557

HAIR CLIPPER Filed Jan. 3l, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l @gli Sept.. 259

M. ANDIS HAIR CLIPPER Filed Jan 3l, 1931 Fig 4- 2 Sheets--Shee'l 2 g Y All, l s I. J

Patented Sept. 25,( 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR CLIPPER Mathew Andis, Racine, Wis.

1 .Application January 31,

-10 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in hair clippers with particular reference to power driven clipping and shearing devices for animals.

My general object is to provide a more re- 5 liable, durable and efficient clipper of the described class than has heretofore been constructed.

More particularly stated, it is my object to provide a compact balanced structure capable l of manipulation with minimum fatigue; to provide such a clipper with driving parts eiciently lubricated, the lubricant conserved and the driving mechanism adequately protected from particles of hair, dust, etc.; to provide means for la; maintaining forced lubricationx during the operation of the clipper; to provide a clipper in which the driving parts will be subjected to minimum wear, particularly with reference to those parts in which material wear would result in 2e imperfect operation; and to provide a clipper in which the comb plate, movable blade and pressure applying means may be located external to the housing which encloses the driving mechanism and the movable blade connected to the driving mechanism without providing an opening for the escape of oil or for the admission of foreign matter to the housing.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved clipper, showing the housing in vertical section drawn to a plane which includes the axis of the handle and the motor shaft.

Figure 2 is a sectional view drawn to the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pressure plate with associated parts and fragments thereof.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modied form of .construction in which the motor shaft is horizontally disposed.

Figure 5 is a front end elevation with portions of the housing broken away.

Figure y6 is a fragmentary View showing a modified means for applying pressure to the movable blade.

' Figure 7 is an elevational view of the pressure applying plate.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 2 and showing the felt washers in place, these washers being omitted in the other views to more clearly show the associated structure and the washer receiving sockets.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views. i` in Figure i the motor is located within a cy- 1931, serial Nt. 512,561

(ci. sei-' i) lindrical casing 10 having a handle 11 attached to one side thereof. The motor is mounted for rotation o1' its armature 12 about a vertical axis. and its shaft 13 is operatively connected with the movable or vibratory blade 14 of the clipper throughthe pinion 15, gear wheel 16, crank pin i7, and an oscillatory lever having a power arm 18 and a working arm 19. This lever is supported from an internal casing wall 20 by a pivot bolt 21 extending through an opening in the front wall of the casing and the working arm 19 has a forked extremity engaged in a socket formed at the rear margin of the movable blade 14 and anked by upset housing walls 22 and a cover plate 23.

The working end of the lever is thus wholly enclosed, at the sides across its end and at the top, by the housing, the latter vibrating with the blade 14; along the front face of the casing near the lower corner thereof. The pi'voted portion or hub 24 of the lever is preferably socketed to receive felt washers 25 and the hub itself is seated in concave bearings 26, (Fig. 2), at the sides of the lever, wherebythese bearing walls co-operate with the felt washers to prevent the escape of oil from the interior of the casing or the entry of dust or hair from the exterior. in this latter particular the housing also co-operates in protecting the mechanism within the casing.

The connection between the crank pin 17 and the lever 18 is important. The power arm of the lever is tubular or cylindrical in form and contains a plunger shaped or cylindrical slide 28 having a cross bore in which the crank vpin is engaged,

whereby the crank pin may oscillate the lever from side to side, the slide 28 taking up the lost motion. Crank 17 extends through lever slot 29.

The slide 28 also operates as an oil circulating pump plunger. The lower portion of the casing below the partition wall 20 may be filled with oil. The slide 28 being hollow and open ended this oil may pass through itin the direction of the lever pivot pin 21 and the oil is forced in this direction by the slide when the latter moves toward the fulcrum pivot, some of the oil 'being permitted to escape through a lateral opening 32 as well as through the slide itself. The slide 28, therefore, operates not only for motion transmission but for force feed lubrication and for oil circulation.

It lubricates the pivot pin and the concave casing i bearings in which the lever hub is mounted, and the forced circulation of oil also ensures lubrication for the crank pin and the slideitself in its movement within the lever. circulation of the oil ensures lubrication of the gear wheel 16, pinion 15, and the bearings o1' the Simultaneously the motor shaft, the latter being preferably provided with an oil duct 30 through which oil may be passed from the cavity underneath the upper cap 31 whereby the supply of oil in the lower gear wheel and lever cavity may be replenished.

In order that the movable blade 14 may be held in resilient pressure relation to the comb plate 35, and may be guided along the face of the casing substantially in the plane of its bottom wall, an elbowed guide member or plate 40 is employed having a horizontal portion bearing against the casing wall at its inner margin, and supported from the comb plate by a bolt 41 having an adjustable nut 42 at its upper end, and a coiled spring 43 interposed between the bolt and the horizontal portion of the plate.

The vertical portion of the plate 40 has its lower margin entered in a groove 45 formed in the upper surface of the movable blade 14, said upper surface being machined at the respective sides of the groove to provide flat bearing surfaces 44 for rollers 46 having central portions 47 seated in notches formed in the plate. These portions 47 are formed to enter the groove 45 whereby they may serve as anti-friction members to support the lower margin of the plate 40 slightly above the bottom of the groove. The reduced ends of the rollers may be loosely guided by the ilat bearing surfaces 44 which prevent the rollers from tipping. 'I'he plate 40 therefore operates as a pressure plate and a guide plate for the movable blade. It is prevented from sliding along the face of the casing by an anchor piece 48 which projects into a recess 49 in the casing Wall. 'I'his guide plate cooperates with the wall of the motor and gear casing and with the housing, including its cover plate 23, in protecting the lever fulcrum bearing from hair and other foreign matter, and thus cooperates with the packing for said bearing in protecting the interior of the gear casing from such material.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 it will be observed Ythat the motor 12a is mounted horizontally within a casing 10a and the front or blade supporting portion of the casing is provided With an oil tight cavity containing a driving pinion 15a, reduction gear 16a, crank pin 17a, and the power arm 18a of a lever similar to the lever shown in Figures 1 and 2 for actuating the movable blade, the lever being, however, disposed for oscillation in a vertical plane about the axis of its pivot pin 21a.

The lower front margin of the casing is provided with a recess 50 for which the comb plate 35a constitutes the bottom. The movable blade 14a is provided with housing walls 22a, but the cap plate is omitted inasmuch as the arm 19a of the lever enters the housing space from the top.

In this construction different means may be employed for applying resilient pressure to the movable blade. In Figs. 4 and 5 a portion 51 of the front wall is outwardly oiset and made removable, the same being secured by means of screws 52 and 53. At the lower margin of this removable wall portion 51 a socketed'projection 55 is provided which receives an anchor piece 48a carried by the presser plate 40a, the latter being similarA to the plate 40 disclosed in Fig. 1 although it has a shorter top portion through which the post 41a passes. The lower margin of this plate 40a is notched to receive rollers 47a which have trunnions 57 guided in slots 58 in side bars 59 riveted to the sides of the notched portion of the plate. The post is provided with 64 is employed which applies downward resilient pressure to the plate 61. At an intermediate point set screws 66 connect this plate with the front wall of the casing, slots 67 being provided in the plate to allow a vertical shifting movement. The lower portion 68 of the plate is offset and enters a groove 45h in the movable blade 14h. This portion 68 is notched along its lower margin as indicated at 70 in Fig. 7. The rollers 47h have trunnions 71 journaled in the side bars 72 which are riveted to the lower portion of the plate.

In view of the fact that the motor is a high speed motor with an R. P. M. ranging from approximately 8000 to 15000, efficient lubrication is of vitai importance. The speed reduction provided by the gearing is in the ratio of three to one and the lever, therefore, is subject to from 3000 to 5000 complete reciprocation per minute. Experiments have demonstrated that unless eflicient lubrication is provided commercial success cannot be attained and it is questionable whether such a device can be regarded as operable without equivalent lubrication.

Another very important feature of my invention is the balancing of the weight upon the handle 11. Unless the weight of the parts is substantially balanced unnecessary fatigue results. I find it also desirable to provide a counterweight 16' on the gear wheel 16 to counterbalance the resistance of the lever and the removable blade.

I claim:

1. A hair clipper of 'the described class, comprising the combination of a casing provided with a handle, a motor mounted in the upper portion of the casing with its shaft vertically disposed, a casing partition forming anoil retaining cavity in the lower portion of the casing, a pinion in said cavity connected' with the motor shaft, a gear wheel driven by the pinion and provided with a crank, a lever fulcrum for swinging movement in a horizontal plane and having one arm operatively connected with the crank, the other arm extending through an opening in the casing, and a clipper blade operatively connected with said extended arm for movement exterior to the casing, the actuating arm of said lever being tubular in form and provided with a sliding oil pumping plunger connected with the crank tc also absorb the lost mction while allowing the lever to swing upon its fulcrum bearing, said fulcrum bearing being in oil tight relation to tht casing. f

2. In a hair clipper of the described class, th: combination with a suitable casing, a motor contained therein and provided with a vertically disposed shaft, an oil retaining cavity in the lowei portion of the casing into which the motor shaf` projects, a crank operatively connected with thl motor shaft, a lever having a slide upon om arm thereof connected with the crank for trans mission'of swinging movement to the lever, a1 oil retaining fulcrum bearing for said lever am an arm extending therefrom to the exterior o the casing, a comb plate attached to the casini below said arm, a movable blade mounted upoi the comb plate and having a housing socket nea its rear margin into which the projecting arm of the lever is loosely entered, said movable blade having a slot and the comb plate having a post extending through the slot, a presser plate supported from the casing and posts with a downturned margin in guiding relation to the movable blade, and a spring coiled uponsaid post in pressure relation to the' presser plate, the opening in the casing through which said lever extends being covered in part by the pressure plate and in part by said housing.

3. In a hair clipper of the described class, the combination with a casing having an oil retaining crank and gear cavity, a lever having an oil tight fulcrum bearing in one wall of said cavity. said lever being provided with a slotted tubular power arm having a longitudinal port leading to the bearing and a lateral port for return of oil to the cavity. an oil pumping slide mounted for reciprocation in said tubular power arm, and/an operating crank connected with said slide through the slot in the arm.

4. In a hair clipper of the described class, the combination with a casing having an oil retaining crank and gear cavity, a lever having an oil retaining fulcrum bearing in one wall of said cavity, and provided with a slotted tubular power arm having a longitudinal port leading to the bearing and a lateral port for return of oil to the cavity, an oil pumping slide in said power arm, and an operating crank connected with said slide through the slot in the arm, said fulcrum bearing including a pivot post provided with oil retaining washers concentric with the post at each side of the lever, and said lever having arcuate fulcrum bearing portions mounted in correspondingly arcuate casing bearings, also concentric with said axis.

5. A hair clipper of the described class including the combination of a motor casing provided with a handle, a comb plate secured to the lower portion of the casing and projecting from one side thereof, a clipper blade mounted on the comb plate, guiding means for the blade adapted to hold it to the comb plate under resilient pressure a motor in the casing at one side of the axis of the handlez and driving connections on the opposite side of said axis for transmitting motion from the motor to the movable blade said driving connections having the maior portion thereof housed in an oil retaining cavity, and an exterior portion housed upon the blade at its rear margin, said guiding means, the rear margin of the blade, and the housing for the exterior portion of the driving connections .being in protective relation to said connections to exclude hair and other material therefrom. i

6. In a hair clipper, the combination with a vibratory clipper blade. of a lever for actuating the same having an intermediate fulcrum pivot. said lever yhaving a tubular actuating arm provided with a port leading to the fulcrum pivot, and a lateral port permitting oil circulation; a slide in said lever adapted to circulate oil therethrough, a motor driven crank operatively connected with said slide, and an oil retaining casing for said connections, said slide being adapted to reciprocate the lever while circulating the lubricant over its own surfaces and through said ports.

7. In a hair clipper, a blade actuating lever having an intermediate fulcrum pivot and also having a tubular actuating arm provided with a longitudinal port leading to said pivot, and a lateral port permitting circulation and relief of pressure, a motor driven slide adapted to pump oil through said ports and over its own surfaces, and an oil retaining casing for the tubular arm of said lever and its actuating connections.

' 8. In a hair clipper of the described class, the combination with a reciprocatory clipper blade, of a lever having a working arm operatively connected with the blade and an actuating arm disposed for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the blade, a crank having sliding engagement with said arm, an electric motor operatively connected to rotate the crank, and an oil retaininghousing for the power driven arm and crank, the motor and the working arm of the lever being exterior to said housing.

9. In` a hair clipper having a housing subdivided into a motor chamber and an oil-tight gear chamber, a motor in the motor chamber having its lshaft extended into the gear chamber,

a lever having a fulcrum axis parallel to the shaft with one arm in said gear chamber in a position to swing past the end of said shaft in a plane l transverse to the shaft axis, and gear crank connections-between the motor shaft and said lever, and an exterior clipper blade movable in a plane transverse to that in which the lever moves said lever having an exterior working armvadapted for connection with the vibratory clipper blade.

l0. A hair clipper of the described class having in combination a casing subdivided to provide a motor cavity, an oil tight gear cavity. a shear plaie attached to the casing at one lower corner, a vibratory cutter blade thereon, a motor in the motor cavity operatively connected with the gearing in the gear cavity, a blade actuating lever having an actuating arm disposed for swinging movement across the axial line of the motor shaft and substantially parallel to one wall of the gear cavity, actuating connections between the gearing and said lever, and a handle for the casing havin'g its axis substantially in line with .m

the motor shaft axis, the center of gravity of the clipper being adjacent'said line and between the handle and the clipper blades whereby the shear plate may be held with minimum fatigue to the surface from which hair is to be cut. m

' MATHEW ANDIS. 

